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This small batch coffee cake is just like your favorite Starbucks coffee cake and it is the perfect amount for 2-4 people. A tender yellow cake topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
No Cake Mix Needed: I first posted a full size recipe for this Starbucks Copycat Coffee Cake years ago. That recipe is made with a yellow cake mix. When I decided I wanted a mini coffee cake version my favorite coffee cake I didn’t want to use a cake mix. I would only need a portion of the cake mix and it just felt wasteful to throw the rest away.
So, I developed this recipe to taste just like the full size version without using a cake mix. The entire coffee cake is made from scratch and I think it’s better than the real thing!
Ingrediens Needed
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Butter, I use salted butter in my baking unless noted in the recipe. If you prefer unsalted butter just add in 1/2 tsp of salt instead of 1/4 tsp.
- Sugar, granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Sour Cream, use full fat sour cream or substitute full fat plan Greek yogurt.
- Milk
- Cinnamon
How to Make Small Batch Coffee Cake
- Combine butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and sour cream.
- Add in your dry ingredients including flour, salt and baking powder.
- Stir to combine and add in milk.
- Pour cake batter into lined or greased pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- While baking mix up your streusel topping.
- Mix together flour, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla until crumbly.
- Pull the cake out after 15 minutes and gently layer or sprinkle the crumb topping on top.
- Bake for another 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for five minutes and then remove from pan by lifting up parchment paper.
- Place on cooling rack.
- Slice into 2-4 pieces.
Tips from leigh Anne
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper to make it easier to remove and serve.
- Be sure your butter for the streusel is cold so the topping doesn’t get doughy.
- Change it up a bit by adding in some mini chocolate chips or cinnamon chips. Some chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts would be delish. Add in 1/4 cup of either. Chopped nuts can be added to the cake batter or to the crumb topping.
- The addition of some fresh blueberries (about 1/3 cup) would add extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size pan should I use for a small batch cake?
A 9 x 5 inch loaf pan works best for this recipe.
You could also use an 8 x 8 inch pan.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftover coffee cake can be kept stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also store it in the refrigerator
Does coffee cake have actual coffee in it?
Here in the United States it does not have coffee in it although I know in other countries it does. It is called coffee cake because it is usually enjoyed with a cup of coffee.
How do I know when the small batch coffee cake is done?
It is done when a toothpick comes out clean. If the toothpick has any cake batter on it, bake for a few more minutes.
Check out more of my coffee cake recipes :
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Small Batch Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp butter softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 1 Tbsp milk
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup flour plus 1bsp
- 1/4 cup butter soft
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Combine butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and sour cream. Mix to combine.
- Add in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add in milk
- Pour into a parchment lined or greased 9 x 5 loaf pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes.
Streusel Topping
- Combine flour, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
- Stir until crumbly.
- Remove coffee cake from oven and gently spread topping over top of cake.
- Return to oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Tips & Notes:
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper to make it easier to remove and serve.
- Be sure your butter for the streusel is cold so the topping doesn’t get doughy.
- Change it up a bit by adding in some mini chocolate chips or cinnamon chips. Some chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts would be delish. Add in 1/4 cup of either. Chopped nuts can be added to the cake batter or to the crumb topping.
- The addition of some fresh blueberries (about 1/3 cup) would add extra flavor.
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Nutrition Facts:
Tamara says
Easy to assemble and bake. I was hoping to share half of this with my brother. Sadly, nope. It won’t make it to Thursday. Yummy ❤️
Anna says
Fantastic !
Kind regards from Switzerland
Linda says
Urgent; Can I use BUTTERMILK instead?? 3-8-22
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
I have never done so but I don’t see why not.
Michelle Bergeleen says
Very delicious. My husband loved it.
Linda Bylin says
I made this today. The bottom was very dense not like a cake at all. I used an extra large egg could that have done it?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
yep – that could totally do it. In small batch cooking adding a little more or a little less can make a big difference. Be sure to not over stir.
Linda Bylin says
What size eggs do you normally use?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
I always use large